I know I haven't updated in like a week and a half, but I'm back and with a new chapter. I'm going to try to keep to a schedule and update every Saturday night, even though it's already Sunday morning for me right now, ha-ha. Anyway now for the reviews:

Readingcutie428: I know it's always hard to see families after something bad happened like that, I had a serious self debate on wither I was going to have Ray do it or someone else.

CaitlynGeller4ever: At least I know that your reading, thanks for letting me know though. And I don't mind questions at all, if you or anyone has a question, put it in the review or PM me I don't mind at all to answer your questions.

DramaQueen127: I don't try to make you guys cry, but at least I know my writing is good enough to do that though. YES RAYELLA FOREVER! :D I hope they do have a second movie and they have Rayella in it.

Guest: whoever you are when I read your comment I was literally in the best moods that I've had in a while. Thank you so much for reviewing. And thank you to those who have favorite and alerted I really appreciate it.

Disclaimer: My plain to make Lemonade Mouth mine is still on the drawing board, and is hopefully going to be put into action soon, but until then I still don't own it, or any of the songs.


Chapter 8

Ray's P.O.V.

It's been a week since I've been back in Mesa, and things have not been easy. Stell's family has been busy with funeral arrangements that are planned for a week from now; the only good thing that comes out of it is that Sarah gets to come out for a few days for the funeral. Right now I'm heading over to Dante's to hang out with Scott and the rest of his group.

"Hey Ray" Scott called over when I walked through the front doors, causing the rest of the group to look up. They all smiled towards me as I walked over. Round the table it went Scott, Mo, Olivia, Wen, Charlie, and then an empty chair.

"Hey Ray, how have you been?" Mo asked as I took a seat in-between Scott and Charlie, and I picked up a piece of pizza.

"I've had better days, but what about you guys how have you been holding up?" I asked looking around the table; their eyes were all down casted looking at their plates.

"It's hard, but we're making it though. The band was actually thinking about playing at the funeral, and…" Wen started but trailed off.

"And we were thinking about starting up the band again, performing some gigs around the town." Scott finished for him, causing me to almost choke on the pizza. "Continue the legacy that she started."

"How are you going to do that?" I asked clearing my throat.

"We were thinking that in some of our songs like More Than a Band or Somebody, we leave her parts empty, like a reminder that she will always have a spot in the band. For some of the songs her part is just too big to leave open so that will have to be filled."Mo explained "we were thinking having Olivia and I would share her part, you know?"

"And Scott is staying on the guitar." Wen said. "And we are even in the process of a few new songs." I nodded slowly looking down at the table taking in the information.

"Is it alright if I ask a favor of you guys?"

"Yeah sure" Wen said and they all leaned in slightly.

"I want to sing something the funeral but I need your help." I asked "I've been working on it since the plane ride here. I already have the parts and everything." I pulled out the pages I had folded in my pocket.

"Yeah we would be glad to help." Olivia said.

"Thanks guys, for everything." I said and we all fell silent.

"We all miss her Ray." Scott said putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I always hate how you can do that." I looked up, tears in my eyes.

"I've known you since kindergarten, were practically brothers." He said.

"It's just hard thinking that if I was there I could have helped out and maybe things would be different."

"There's nothing you could do to change that day, besides knowing Stell and how stubborn she is she would have done it no matter if you were there or no." Olivia said.

"I know, I know. I wish I had told her sooner about how I felt" I let my head rest in my hands, trying my best to not cry in front of everybody.

Everyone was quite for a few minutes and I finally couldn't take it anymore. Standing I grabbed my cane. "I gotta go I'll see you guys later." I said before walking out to my car.

Once in the safety of my car I placed my head on the steering wheel and let it go, just cried, let all my feelings go. I don't know how long it was before I pulled myself together and drove home.


Week later

Today was the funeral, and I'm going around my room making sure I had everything, when I looked down at my desk and saw the picture of Stella and me. I looked at it remembering the day, before sticking it in the breast pocket of my dress jacket.

"Ray, there here." My mother called from down stairs.

"Ok I'll be down in a minute." I shouted back before grabbing the papers that lay on the desk and limping over to where my cane sat by my bed. Walking down stairs I saw Scott and the rest of the band standing in the living room, Scott, Charlie, and Wen all in black tuxes, Mo in a strapless black dress that stopped at her knees, and Olivia dress had one shoulder strap and went down about mid thigh

"You look really nice, Ray" Mo comments when she noticed me walking down.

"You ready?" Scott asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be." I said and we walked out to Scott's car.

Twenty minutes later were pulling into the church the ceremony was being held in, people standing outside chatting with one-another. Most of the people I didn't know, but guessed them to be family members, others I recognized from around Mesa High, the A.V. team, journalist, and other groups from the 'underground'.

"Ray!" I heard someone call as I climbed out of Scott's car, barley managing to catch the blond that flew into my arms.

"Sarah, it's good to see you." I said hugging her tightly. "How long have you been here?" I asked releasing her to look her in her tear filled eyes.

"I just got here." She said.

"Ray who's this?" I heard Scott ask. Looking over I noticed the rest of the band was standing there.

"Hey guys, this is Sarah, one of Stell's and my troop members, Sarah was the last one to see Stell." I explained. "Sarah this is…"

"Lemonade Mouth" she says finishing my sentence. "I was a big fan during High school."

"Nice to meet you Sarah," Mo said. "Wish we could stay and talk but we have to go set up." Sarah nodded and they walked off towards the church.

"How is it out there?" I ask when they were out of sight.

"Different, defiantly different." She said right before the church bells rang.

"I'm glad to see you, Sarah. Its hard being out here with no one to talk to that knows what you've been though." I said as we walked with the rest of the people heading inside.

"Yeah, even overseas it's hard to find someone good to talk too." We made our way to our seats towards the front on the left side next to the band. The room had high ceilings, with huge stain glass windows behind the stage in the front. On the stage over to the left was all of the bands equipment, set up and ready to play. On the right side of the stage was a podium with a microphone sitting on top. But in the very center of the stage was a closed coffin with a picture of a Smiling picture of Stell in her military uniform.

Once everybody was seated the pasture walked to the front and started talking, before I knew it people were standing to talk about Stell. After a few family members talked the band stood and walked towards the stage, when they reached it, Olivia split off heading to the stand, and began to speak while the band set up.

"Stella, was always a happy person, you were lucky if you were able to meet her in person. I'm glad to be one of the few she called her best friends. She was one of those people, that once you meet them, you won't be able to forget them, and Stella will always have a place in our hearts. And we will always remember what she stood for, who she gave a voice to, the people who were being trampled and bullied. Without Stella, Lemonade Mouth would have not of happened and that we all need to keep holding on." She finished and took the microphone over to the empty stand, before Scott hit the first notes of the song.

You're not alone,

Together we stand

I'll be by your side, you know I'll take your hand

When it gets cold

And it feels like the end

There's no place to go, you know I won't give in

No, I won't give in

Keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Just stay strong

'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you

There's nothing you could say, Nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

So far away,

I wish you were here

Before it's too late this could all disappear

Before the door's closed

And it comes to an end

With you by my side I will fight and defend I'll fight and defend,

yeah, yeah

Keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Just stay strong

'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you

There's nothing you could say, Nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Hear me when I say when I say,

I believe

Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny

Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Just stay strong

'Cause you know I'm here for you, I'm here for you

There's nothing you could say, Nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Keep holding on

Keep holding on

There's nothing you could say,

Nothing you could do

There's no other way when it comes to the truth

So keep holding on

'Cause you know we'll make it through, we'll make it through

Everyone was in tears by the time the song, and the band prepared for the next song. I stood up and walked to the podium, Olivia ran over and handed me the mic before heading back to the band.

"Stella, was one of my best friends while overseas, which I still don't get, the one person she hated most during high school, she decided to give a second chance. During high school I was a total jerk, and I realize that now and I'm sorry to everyone out in the audience that had to deal with me, but Stella helped me realize something, that it's not all about sports or being popular, she gave a voice to the people who were constantly ignored, and will we were overseas, we had the chance to bond, and I'm happy to say that we were really good friends before it happened. When I found out that night from another troop member, what had happened I was devastated, I knew I was being sent home do to an injury and I had decided that, that night I would tell her how I felt. For while we were there, I had fallen for the one person I had despised during high school. I just wish I had the guts to have told her sooner." Tears sprung to my eyes again, as I walk over to the band and nodded to Wen before I started singing.

When you try your best but you don't succeed

When you get what you want but not what you need

When you feel so tired but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

A single tear fell from my eye.

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Scott sang back up

And high up above or down below

When you're too in love to let it go

But if you never try you'll never know

Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

Tears stream down your face

And I

Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes

Tears stream down your face

And I

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

By the end I was in tears and everyone started clapping. I carefully made my way back to my seat, and when I got there and took it, Sarah put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring look.

The rest of the recession went by in a blur and before I knew it I was standing in front of the grave. I walked forward and took the picture out of my pocket and placed it on top of the coffin sitting in front of me, before stepping back again, and a few minutes later a man worked on filling the hole, that the coffin was just lowered into. Looking at the tomb stone that now sat at the head, it read:

Stella L. Yamada

February 23, 1995-April 20, 2014

Loving daughter, Friend, Leader

Be Heard, Be Strong, Be Proud


Ok so hope you guys liked it, please review, even if it's under the guest thing, I know there are a lot of you guys reading this (over 130 hits) I love hearing back from you guys. You're the best; I'll see you guys next week, always remember…

-Fight for what's right and be a SolderOfLove Peace!